Mint Primer

On Monday, the RBI said prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) must not be loaded through credit lines from non-bank lenders, sending the wallet and buy-now-pay-later industry into confusion. Mint explains the RBI circular and the impact on fintechs.

Multiple forces have been pulling the Indian rupee down, including the exit of foreign portfolio investors, the rising cost of international crude oil prices, and a strong dollar. Mint's Prasid Banerjee explains the implications of the decline in the Indian currency.

With WTO countries making progress on the patent waiver for covid vaccines  last  week, Mint examines how  crucial  it is to amend the WTO’s IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) norms in the post-pandemic world, keeping in mind the need for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

Several states are witnessing a shortage of fuel, leading to long queues at fuel stations and anxiety among consumers. Even though crude oil prices have crossed $120 per barrel, retail prices have not kept pace, affecting the financials of oil marketing companies. Tune in now as Mint's Alisha Sachdev examines!

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team’s (CERT-In’s) directive to virtual private network (VPN) providers to store user data on Indian servers has prompted many of them to shut their local servers. But what does this mean for users? Find out about it in this episode with Mint's Prasid Banerjee.

When Google engineer Blake Lemoine said its AI model LaMDA had turned sentient or was self-aware, Google said it had found the claim hollow and baseless, sending him on ‘paid administrative leave. Mint's Prasid Banerjee explores the fear of AI and why tech companies react defensively.

Over 160 countries are taking part in the 12th ministerial meeting of the WTO at Geneva. And divergences between developed and developing countries may make it challenging for them to agree on issues plaguing the global economy. Mint's Prasid Banerjee explains in this episode.

The RBI has proposed linking credit cards to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), beginning with the National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI’s) RuPay credit cards. Is this a precursor to bringing Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services under regulatory fold? Find out with Mint's Alisha Sachdev!

A trial on 18 colorectal cancer patients in the US found that cancer could be treated without chemotherapy or surgery. The world is sitting up and taking note of Dostarlimab, which has been called a wonder drug. Mint's Prasid Banerjee explains.

Proposed changes to rules governing social media platforms in India have created a flutter. Mint explains how the amendments create new grievance redressal measures for social media users while increasing the compliance burden on the platforms.

The engines of growth are humming again; the rise in credit disbursement by banks in 2011-22, as well as in April 2022, reflects this. But what is fuelling this credit growth, and what could change the trend? Tune into this episode of Mint Primer, as Mint's Prasid Banerjee explores.

In the recent past, India’s mutual fund industry has been hit by several charges of front-running. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has acted in three cases, including its ongoing investigation into Axis Mutual Fund. Mint explores the crisis.

With runaway inflation, unsustainable debt, and a hamstrung tourism sector, Sri Lanka’s economy is facing its worst crisis in over 70 years. Recently, the island nation lifted its state of emergency. Mint's Alisha Sachdev scans the road ahead.

Yet again, two measures of India’s economy— ‘gross value added’ and ‘gross domestic product’—have grown at widely different paces. While the change in GDP significantly lagged the change in GVA in FY21, the story was opposite in FY22, says data released Tuesday. Mint's Prasid Banjeree explains.

The Reserve Bank of India has again said the entry of BigTech into the financial services space could have systemic risks. RBI plans to introduce policy measures for such companies and for digital banking. Mint takes a look at what it entails.

The pandemic has nudged iPhone maker Apple to eye manufacturing its devices in India. However, the country’s production lines have only just begun ramping up. Does India have the production capacity to become an alternative for Apple? Mint explains.

Small cars are the bread and butter to India’s leading automakers, such as Maruti Suzuki. Recently, the company’s chairman R.C. Bhargava said there was no more ‘butter’ in this segment, with only bread left behind. Why are small car sales falling? Mint explains:

The market regulator recently issued a circular on passive funds covering matters related to transparency, liquidity, and operational aspects of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and index funds. These provisions will come into effect from 1 July. Mint decodes:

The world is facing a new medical challenge, the emergence of monkeypox. No case has been reported in India yet, but states and the central government are keeping a close watch on the situation. Mint talks about the outbreak and its implications.

Is inequality getting worse in India, and what does it mean for the poor in the country? These are some of the questions that arise following the release of the State of Inequality in India report by the Institute for Competitiveness. Mint examines the report’s findings.